{"id":62507,"date":"2024-01-10T16:41:23","date_gmt":"2024-01-10T21:41:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=62507"},"modified":"2026-01-21T19:53:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T00:53:31","slug":"normal-resting-heart-rate-by-age","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/normal-resting-heart-rate-by-age\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a normal resting heart rate by age?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now that wearable devices like heart rate monitors are as easily accessible as watches, you may be wondering, \u201cWhat\u2019s a normal heart rate?\u201d What\u2019s considered a normal resting heart rate (RHR) depends on your age, how active you are, and your gender.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a normal resting heart rate?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Your <\/span>resting heart rate<\/span>, or pulse, is the number of times your heart beats per minute while at rest. When you measure your resting heart rate, you are measuring the minimum amount of blood needed to circulate to give adequate blood and oxygen to the body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For most people, a normal resting heart rate ranges between 60 and 100 beats per minute. If you don\u2019t have a heart rate monitor, you can use your finger to press on your pulse (either on your wrist or neck) and then count the number of beats while timing with a stopwatch for sixty seconds. The number of beats you count within 60 seconds is your resting heart rate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Your age influences your resting heart rate. As you age, your normal resting heart rate will decrease.<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is resting heart rate important?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cA low resting heart rate can indicate higher physical fitness and better cardiovascular health, while a higher resting heart rate could be a sign of increased cardiovascular risk,\u201d says <\/span>Raj Dasgupta, MD<\/span><\/a>, a<\/span> board-certified specialist in sleep medicine, pulmonary disease, critical care, and internal medicine.<\/span><\/p>\n

Resting heart rate is an <\/span>important indicator of current and future health<\/span><\/a>. The more beats your heart has to take in order to give your body the blood it needs, the more of a toll it takes on your body, putting you at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.<\/span><\/p>\n

Most athletes tend to have a low normal resting heart rate. \u201cWe often consider lower resting heart rates to be a sign of good cardiovascular and physical health,\u201d says <\/span>Matthew Goldstein, MD<\/span><\/a>, a cardiologist at Cardiology Consultants of Philadelphia. \u201cLong-distance runners and marathoners often have resting heart rates in the 30s and 40s, and this is considered absolutely normal.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to know what is typical for your individual RHR. One way to do this is to have a wearable activity tracker. \u201cKnowing your resting heart rate can help you identify potential health problems, track your progress with exercise, stay safe during exercise, and assess your overall health,\u201d Dr. Dasgupta says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Children typically have higher resting heart rates compared to adults. \u201cChildren have higher resting heart rates due to their smaller heart size and higher metabolic rate,\u201d says <\/span>Tez Pratap Singh, MD,<\/span> a healthcare provider at Dr. Cure.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
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Normal resting heart rate by age<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

Age<\/b><\/td>\nHeart rate in beats per minute (bpm)<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Newborns\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n100\u2013205<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2\u201312 months<\/span><\/td>\n100\u2013180<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1\u20132 years<\/span><\/td>\n98\u2013140<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3\u20135 years<\/span><\/td>\n80\u2013120<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6\u20137<\/span><\/td>\n75\u2013118<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8 and older (including adults)<\/span><\/td>\n60\u2013100<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Source: <\/span>American Heart Association<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

What causes a high resting heart rate?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are many different factors that can influence your resting heart rate, including genetics, gender, lifestyle, health conditions, and medications. <\/span>\u201cTracking your resting heart rate can help assess if your medications are affecting your resting heart rate,\u201d says Dr. Pratap Singh.<\/span><\/p>\n

If your RHR is higher than it should be, your healthcare provider may consider your family history when determining the best course of treatment. That\u2019s why it\u2019s advisable always to provide your family medical history to your healthcare provider so they can identify whether you have any <\/span>genetic risk factors<\/span><\/a>, like high blood pressure, that may cause a high RHR.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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